Can organic farming help preserve water quality? A comparison of three representative cases in France and Germany

The protection of water resources against agricultural pollution is subject to stricter regulations in Europe, which now include performance-based obligations; this is prompting local authorities to take action regarding farmers’ practices within catchment areas. In this study, the processes involved in drawing up agreements between three local authorities (Munich and Augsburg in Germany, and Lons-le-Saunier in France) and farmers are analysed using secondary data and direct interviews with regional stakeholders. By examining in particular the role played in these agreements by incentives to convert to organic farming, we have identified factors that are conducive to, but not necessarily sufficient for, its development: initially extensive production systems, well-structured and demand-driven organic supply chains, attractive financial incentives, the importance of an intermediary technical facilitator, and the establishment of dialogue and contracts over sufficiently long timeframes.